“Who are you?” Ye Jingyu and Fang Zhentian asked almost simultaneously, the power within them having vanished, or rather, they were utterly unable to mobilize their own energy. The only strength available to them was their sheer physical might. In this moment, they were not peerless experts capable of leveling mountains with a casual gesture; they were merely ordinary men possessing freakishly strong bodies.

Of course, even with their current physical prowess, both Fang Zhentian and Ye Jingyu could still effortlessly dispatch a Martial Saint, or even a first-tier Martial God.

But such power felt infinitesimally small to them, especially for Fang Zhentian, who had always stood above all others. To suddenly lose his power was enough to shock any man.

Everything here was steeped in a profound strangeness. The architect of this situation was very likely the owner of the voice—a being capable of stripping him of his strength. How could such a presence be underestimated?

“You want to know who I am? Very well. You two shall first engage in a duel to the death. The one who emerges victorious, I will personally tell who I am, and as the victor, you shall also receive my inheritance!” The voice echoed again, laced with an unmistakable tone of non-negotiable command.

“Hmph, do you take us for fools? You want us to kill each other so you can reap the benefits, don’t you?” Both Ye Jingyu and Fang Zhentian were men of immense pride; they certainly wouldn't take such an offer at face value. They both snorted coldly, almost in unison.

After speaking, the two exchanged a glance, a flicker of mutual understanding passing between them.

“What do you say? If we join forces, we can get out of here first before settling our scores!” Seeing the look in Ye Jingyu’s eyes, Fang Zhentian was the first to propose the alliance.

“Agreed!” Ye Jingyu nodded, and their bodies slowly moved closer.

“What percentage of your combat power remains?” As their bodies drew nearly level, Fang Zhentian inquired.

“Less than one layer—at most, the strength of the First Heaven Realm!” Ye Jingyu answered directly.

“I am also at the level of the First Heaven Realm. Let’s pick a passage and fight our way out together,” Fang Zhentian murmured.

“Fine, let’s take the passage straight ahead then!” Ye Jingyu nodded.

“I’ll count to one, two, three, and we rush in together! One, two, three!” Fang Zhentian’s words had barely left his lips when he slammed a palm directly toward Ye Jingyu’s heart. Simultaneously, Ye Jingyu launched a punch aimed squarely at Fang Zhentian’s chest.

Crack... With a sharp sound, both men were hurled backward. Fang Zhentian’s entire chest caved inward, while Ye Jingyu’s ribs were pulverized into fragments. Both bodies slammed heavily against the stone wall behind them, each spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Clearly, both had sustained catastrophic injuries.

“You are despicable!”

“You are shameless!” The curses erupted almost simultaneously. These were both ruthless men; their conflict was now irresolvable. Given the bizarre nature of their confinement, genuine cooperation was impossible. Even if they successfully escaped together, their alliance would be hollow, especially on Ye Jingyu’s part.

Once they were outside, Fang Zhentian’s superior strength would leave him completely at the mercy of his enemy. Better to fight him fiercely now, perhaps relying on brute strength to secure a lucky kill, than to face certain doom later.

As for Fang Zhentian, he had never seriously considered cooperating with Ye Jingyu. The moment the voice made its suggestion, he had already resolved to kill Ye Jingyu.

How powerful could this entity be, capable of stripping away his strength? If he obtained that inheritance, to what unimaginable realm would his own power ascend? Perhaps he could finally break through the barrier that had held him captive for so many years. Tempted by such a prize, Fang Zhentian could never truly align with Ye Jingyu.

“Hahaha, truly two amusing little fellows, but I rather enjoy this. You two may take your time with the duel. Once a victor is decided, I shall reappear!” The owner of the voice seemed to have noticed their actions, chuckling with wicked delight.

Ye Jingyu and Fang Zhentian paid him no further mind. Whether his words were true or not, having drawn blood, there was no turning back for either of them.

Ignoring the agonizing pain in their chests, they forcibly hauled themselves off the ground. Ye Jingyu snatched the Sky Sovereign Blade and lunged at Fang Zhentian. Fang Zhentian, likewise, drew the Halberd of Heaven and Earth and charged fearlessly toward Ye Jingyu.

Clang! Their weapons met with a resounding collision. There were no elemental energies involved; the battle was purely one of physical force. Yet, the sheer impact caused the very void around them to tremble.

Fang Zhentian’s Halberd of Heaven and Earth swept down from above. Ye Jingyu twisted the Sky Sovereign Blade, meeting the halberd with a deflection, aiming to use the rebound force to quickly retreat. But Fang Zhentian seemed to anticipate this perfectly. The halberd suddenly thrust forward, its tip piercing straight through Ye Jingyu’s shoulder bone...

“Hmph!” Ye Jingyu grunted, disregarding the searing pain in his shoulder. He wrapped his Sky Sovereign Blade around the shaft of the halberd and slashed directly toward Fang Zhentian’s grip.

Fang Zhentian startled and pulled back with one hand, but Ye Jingyu accelerated suddenly. The Sky Sovereign Blade flashed out, severing two of Fang Zhentian’s fingers in one clean strike.

“Hmph.” Fingers being the seat of vital connection, the severing caused Fang Zhentian to cry out in pain. Yet, his body suddenly surged forward with explosive power, slamming directly into Ye Jingyu.

His speed was too great for Ye Jingyu to evade. He could only grip the hilt with one hand while bracing the blade with the other, holding the Sky Sovereign Blade horizontally above his head.

Rumble! The incredibly heavy Halberd of Heaven and Earth slammed down onto the body of the Sky Sovereign Blade. The immense force transferred into the ground, shattering the stone beneath them into dust. Ye Jingyu’s body was driven downward as if nailed into the earth, both his arms immediately fractured, blood spraying wildly...

“Go to hell!” Seeing Ye Jingyu’s arms broken from the impact, Fang Zhentian sneered, yanked his Halberd of Heaven and Earth free, and drove it straight toward Ye Jingyu’s heart.

Poor Ye Jingyu, his lower body still trapped in the ground, was utterly unable to dodge. With both arms shattered, he could no longer defend. He could only watch helplessly as the tip of the Halberd of Heaven and Earth pierced toward him...

Sshh... The tip of the Halberd of Heaven and Earth slid into Ye Jingyu’s heart without resistance. A scarlet jet of blood shot out. A triumphant smile gradually spread across Fang Zhentian’s face, but on the corner of Ye Jingyu’s mouth, a savage twist also began to form...

(Another ten-thousand-character update, brothers, throw your votes and bricks! The fastest initial release address is 3G Bookstore::///b/b.rid=159965—updates are fastest and most timely here. Brothers reading on other sites, please come here! The last group filled up in less than two days, so I’m opening another one. I hope those who join don't duplicate entries, leave some room for new friends! Group number: 32083262)